Datang: Hiding private money, exposed by Xiao Sizi

Chapter 571: Hearing the Case! Meet Your Excellency!
"Master Shen."

Chu Suiliang bowed to Shen Lian.

Shen Lian nodded slightly and said, "Mr. Chu, how are your preparations going?"

Chu Suiliang nodded and said, "Everything is ready. Today we will have a joint trial with Lord Bai. Lord Wei, the censor of the Censorate, will also be here. Once Lord Wei arrives, the Dali Temple and the Censorate will jointly try the case."

Shen Lian said, "Okay, then go and get ready. You can call me when the court is open. Today, I will preside over the trial."

Chu Suiliang already knew that Shen Lian would be the judge of this case, so he was not surprised at all.

He nodded and said, "I understand."

As he spoke, he looked at Shen Lian and said, "Sir Shen, the official robes have been prepared for you."

Shen Lian nodded slightly.

He said, "I will go change into my official robes."

After thinking for a while, he said to Chu Suiliang, "Mr. Chu, her name is Wang Xiaohua, and she is the Dali Temple servant selected by me. In addition to her, there are five others, but those people have not arrived in Chang'an yet. When they arrive, they will all join the Dali Temple together."

When Chu Suiliang heard this, he was slightly surprised.

He knew Shen Lian's vision.

So far, Shen Lian has not missed any of the people he has chosen for the Dali Temple.

Even he was chosen by Shen Lian.

Therefore, he attached great importance to the people chosen by Shen Lian.

He raised his eyes to look at Wang Xiaohua. Wang Xiaohua did not expect Shen Lian to introduce her directly. She did not dare to delay and quickly saluted Chu Suiliang and said, "Master Chu."

"I am Wang Xiaohua, and I have long heard of Mr. Chu's great name. I am honored to meet you here."

Wang Xiaohua's words came from the bottom of her heart.

Chu Suiliang did not look down on Wang Xiaohua or feel that it was against the rules just because she was a woman.

The Tang Dynasty was the most tolerant of women among all dynasties.

In front, there is the eldest princess Li Xiuning, a heroine and a hero on the battlefield!
Therefore, it was not a big deal for a woman to be a yamen runner.

He nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Being chosen by Lord Shen means that you are definitely extraordinary. From now on, we are all colleagues in the Dali Temple."

"If you want to take office today, I can take you to choose clothes for the yamen runners."

Wang Xiaohua didn't hesitate at all when she heard that. She nodded quickly and said, "Of course."

Chu Suiliang smiled and said, "Then come with me."

Wang Xiaohua looked at Shen Lian, and Shen Lian said, "You should follow Mr. Chu's arrangements first and familiarize yourself with the daily affairs of the Dali Temple. I will find you if there are any tasks in the future."

Wang Xiaohua no longer hesitated and left with Chu Suiliang.

After they left, Shen Lian took a deep breath, turned around, and found the official robe that Chu Suiliang had prepared for him.

The whole body is black, representing the majesty of the law!
He hasn't worn this official robe for a long time.

Today, I am finally going to wear it again.

"Old buddy, we're going to fight side by side again."

…………

The Dali Temple is particularly busy today.

Before the court session even started, many people came to watch.

For ordinary people, officials going to jail is always a hotly debated issue.

Not to mention, this official was the Minister of Justice, one of the six ministries of the current dynasty that were hostile to the emperor.

This made the people even more curious.

So early in the morning, people came to watch.

In addition to the common people, some officials also arrived one after another.

The first to arrive were the censors from the Censorate.

Each of these imperial censors had a solemn look on their faces, as if the words "impartial and selfless" were written on their faces.

In front of them was a middle-aged man with a stern face but full of righteousness.

This person is rather thin, but his back is very straight, as if it will never bend.

Imperial Censor, Wei Zheng!
As one of the chief judges in the Bai Yanguan case, Wei Zheng arrived as early as possible this time.

"Master Wei."

Chu Suiliang took the initiative to greet him.

After seeing Chu Suiliang, Wei Zheng finally smiled.

He said, "Master Chu."

Chu Suiliang said: "There is still some time before the court session begins. Lord Wei is here very early."

Wei Zheng said: "Your Majesty trusts me and gives me this case to investigate. How can I be lax? It's a pity that I'm not good at investigating cases and I didn't help much. And now this case is..."

Chu Suiliang understood what Wei Zheng meant.

He smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lord Wei. The Dali Temple has already investigated the case and all the evidence is complete."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zheng couldn't help but raise his head, with a hint of surprise on his face.

Obviously, Chu Suiliang's words really surprised him.

He said: "Master Chu means... have you found out? Are there enough evidence and clues?"

Chu Suiliang nodded slightly: "Of course."

"What about Lord Bai?" Wei Zheng couldn't help but ask.

Chu Suiliang smiled and said, "Actually, I don't know either. We'll have to wait and see the results of the trial."

"You don't know either?"

Wei Zheng was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't understand what Chu Suiliang meant.

Chu Suiliang said: "Master Shen is back."

Wei Zheng was stunned at first.

Then his eyes suddenly opened, and a light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

He said: "Shen Lian, he is back?"

Chu Suiliang smiled and nodded.

A smile suddenly appeared on Wei Zheng's old face.

"Okay, okay!"

"With Shen Lian's ability, he will definitely be able to get to the bottom of this!"

"That's great, it's great that he's back!"

He said, "What about the presiding judge?"

Chu Suiliang said: "Of course it is Lord Shen!"

Wei Zheng was relieved immediately. He said, "As long as Shen Lian is here, I feel relieved."

"It seems that today's case is worth looking forward to."

Wei Zheng and Chu Suiliang entered the Dali Temple and prepared to open the court for the trial.

After that, other officials arrived one after another.

Officials from the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Rites, and Ministry of War all arrived one after another!
Bai Yanguan has been an official for decades and has made many friends in the court. Bai Yanguan is principled and knows how to treat people, so he is much more popular than Wei Zhengzheng.

Therefore, when his case was about to go to the final trial, all those in the court who were on good terms with him or had some relationship with him came.

For a moment, the Dali Temple's yamen seemed crowded.

The chairs on both sides were added in three layers, front and back, to accommodate the officials who came to listen.

The entire Dali Temple has not been so lively for a long time.

The people watching outside became even more excited when they saw so many high-ranking officials coming.

After all, to them, these officials are all high up there, upper class figures who have a huge sense of separation from them.

Normally, they have no chance to meet these people.

Now that they have seen so many at once, they are naturally very excited. They know that they have something to brag about this month!

It was very lively outside the yamen.

Inside the government office, there was a solemn atmosphere. The officials who were listening sat on both sides, their backs straight, and they looked very serious.

Prime Minister Fang Xuanling and Chief Minister Zhangsun Wuji sat in the first seats.

Zhang Sun Wuji looked at the lively crowd outside, then at the officials whispering, and couldn't help but sigh and said, "Mr. Bai has worked hard all his life to defend the strict laws of the Tang Dynasty, but who could have thought that one day he would become a prisoner, watched by everyone, and judged by the law."

Fang Xuanling asked, "Do you really believe that Lord Bai would kill someone?"

Chang Sun Wuji shook his head and said, "Of course I don't want to believe it."

"But I heard that Lord Bai admitted it when he was questioned in the Dali Temple. You know Lord Bai. If he hadn't really done it, would he have admitted it?"

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "Master Bai is a person who would rather break than bend. Who can force him to lie?"

Fang Xuanling also frowned.

He actually has a very good relationship with Bai Yanguan.

Because of this, he has not been able to rest well during this period.

He really couldn't accept that his old friend would break the law knowingly.

But he also heard some news coming from the Dali Temple and the Censorate, saying that Bai Yanguan had directly confessed his guilt.

This made Fang Xuanling find it difficult to accept for a while.

But he also knew Bai Yanguan's character. If Bai Yanguan had not done it, how could he admit it?
He sighed: "I hope there will be a reversal today."

Changsun Wuji shook his head.

Bai Yanguan has admitted it, so how could there be a reversal?

This case is not a very complicated one. As long as Officer Bai Yan admits it, the case can be closed.

He couldn't help but sigh: "Master Bai, why are you so confused!"

Fang Xuanling fell silent and said nothing.

Seeing this, Changsun Wuji also shook his head and said nothing more.

These old brothers who had fought for the empire together were not in a very good mood.

They all didn't believe that Bai Yanguan would do such a thing as breaking the law knowingly, but they all heard that Bai Yanguan had pleaded guilty.

This made them not even dare to expect a miracle.

At this time, Wei Zheng and Chu Suiliang came out.

The originally noisy sound suddenly became quiet.

Everyone looked at Wei Zheng and Chu Suiliang.

They knew that the Dali Temple and the Censorate had come together, which meant that the trial was about to begin.

It also means that the outcome for Bai Yanguan, the hero who helped build the country, will soon be revealed!

Wei Zheng and Chu Suiliang looked at each other and nodded slightly. Then they walked to the sides and sat on both sides.

Instead of sitting in the presiding judge's seat.

This scene startled everyone present.

Wei Zheng was appointed as the head of the Censorate.

Chu Suiliang was the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple. When Shen Lian was away, he was the person in charge of the Dali Temple!

Therefore, the final trial of this case should be presided over by at least one of the two judges.

But who knew that neither of them sat in the middle seat.

What does it mean.

…………

Aren't they the judges?

But if they don't preside over the trial, who else can?
Has Your Majesty arranged for someone else to preside over the trial?

Everyone looked at each other in confusion; none of them had heard of this news.

Moreover, this case is so serious that the presiding judge will not be changed easily.

So…what’s going on?

Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji were also somewhat confused.

But the next moment, Fang Xuanling's eyes suddenly moved.

He couldn't help but ask, "Could it be... that he... is back?"

"he?"

Zhang Sun Wuji was stunned for a moment, and then he didn't know what he was thinking of. His eyes suddenly widened and he said, "You mean..."

........................

Tread-
Before Fang Xuanling could answer, he heard footsteps.

The footsteps were very crisp, yet very steady.

Hearing these steady footsteps actually brought a sense of peace to everyone's anxious hearts.

Then, they looked in the direction of the sound.

Then, they saw a black official robe coming into view.

Afterwards, a handsome face, an extremely familiar face, instantly caught their attention.

At this moment, every one counts.

Everyone's eyes widened when they saw the person coming.

Afterwards, they all stood up.

exclaimed.

"Master Shen, you...you're back!"

Everyone looked at Shen Lian in great surprise.

They never expected that Shen Lian would come back.

Shen Lian, with his dazzling ability, became the focus so much that Wang Xiaohua, who was following behind him, was ignored.

Wang Xiaohua originally felt that being seen by so many officials would definitely put her under great pressure.

But now she found out.

I was just overthinking it.

Since Lord Shen is in front, who would pay attention to me?

All officials, even the prime minister and the chief minister, focused all their attention on Lord Shen!
It was not until this moment that Wang Xiaohua deeply understood...what kind of status Lord Shen held in Chang'an!
All the officials were surprised when they saw Shen Lian.

Obviously, Shen Lian's sudden appearance was completely beyond their expectations.

Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji also looked at each other at this moment.

The two of them were the highest-ranking people in the Tang Dynasty officialdom, and naturally they were very smart people, so after seeing Shen Lian appear, they were only slightly surprised, and then they quickly thought of many deeper things.

For example, even people of their status did not know about Shen Lian's return, which means that Shen Lian must have deliberately hidden his whereabouts!
For example, Shen Lian had been hiding his whereabouts until today. It was obvious... he did it for Bai Yanguan!

For example, Shen Lian showed up. With Shen Lian’s ability, it definitely means that today... this case will be solved!

In an instant, all kinds of thoughts emerged in the minds of the two.

However, none of them showed any strange expressions. The moment they saw Shen Lian, they all stood up and went to greet Shen Lian with a smile.

Fang Xuanling and Shen Lian had worked together many times before, and Shen Lian had helped Fang Xuanling clear his grievances, so the relationship between the two was very good.

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Sir Shen, you really kept this from me so badly. I was just worried about Sir Bai's case, but now that you're back, I'm completely relieved."

Shen Lian bowed to Fang Xuanling and said with a smile: "I have only just returned to Chang'an, and there are still many things I don't understand, so if there are any mistakes in the trial later, I hope you can help correct them."

Fang Xuanling didn't believe what Shen Lian said.

Just returned to Chang'an?
You dared to kick out Wei Zheng and Chu Suiliang, the two people who knew the case best, as the presiding judges, and you still don’t understand?

Fang Xuanling complained in his heart.

But he also understood that if Shen Lian came back for many days but did not show up, it would be difficult to explain to others.

It would be even more inappropriate if Shen Lian hadn't even met His Majesty.

So Shen Lian said this to avoid trouble.

........................

(End of this chapter)